RIM Shows Off PlayBook 2.0 Features

It was back in October at the North American version of BlackBerry DevCon that RIM introduced the developer beta of PlayBook 2.0, an updated version of its tablet software.

Ahead of the general release later this month, RIM has used the European BlackBerry DevCon taking place in Amsterdam this week to show off some new features that PlayBook owners can look forward to.

PlayBook 2.0 will mean that users will no longer need to use their BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry Bridge to access their emails, but Bridge 2.0 will continue to be used with a range of new functions.

BlackBerry Bridge 2.0 will let you use your smartphone as a remote control, meaning you will be able to use that iconic BlackBerry physical keyboard on devices like the Bold 9900 to input text to your PlayBook. We're not sure whether or not this will be of much practical use, but if you just love typing on your phones keyboard then this will be a welcome addition.

For demonstration purposes Bridge 2.0 will allow you to display apps and pictures that are on your phone on the bigger PlayBook screen, and flick through them with your phone.

The calendar is also being spruced up in PlayBook 2.0 with information being drawn in from various social media sources about the people and companies you will be meeting during the day.

While not demoed at DevCon today, PlayBook 2.0’s most interesting feature will be BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps which will allow developers to quickly and easily port Android apps to the PlayBook. And with a serious lack of app hurting the PlayBook sales figures, this can’t happen too soon for new RIM CEO Thorsten Heins.

Will the updated PlayBook software tempt you to purchase the BlackBerry tablet which is now on sale for just £169? Let us know in the comments.